Pacific Northwest Road Trip — Day 6
May 2023
Oregon to California
Bandon Inn provided a bag breakfast to go. We had yogurt, boiled egg, bagel, OJ and pumpkin bread. This was enough to get us started for our busy day heading down to California.
1st Stop: Arch Rock State Park
The drive was 1 hour and 25 minutes via US-101 S
We walked out and took a quick look at the arch. It’s a massive rock arch in the Pacific Ocean. It was a sunny day, and the view was amazing. We couldn’t ask for more than this.
2nd Stop: Natural Bridges
Only a 15-minute drive to get to Natural Bridges. It is in Samuel H. Boardman State Park on the Oregon Coast. (Getting close to California)
The gravel parking lot is small. We didn’t have an issue with parking but it is a popular landmark so who knows.
We walked a short distance to the overlook platform. It was mid-morning when we arrived, and the sun was out. Don’t skip this landmark. The views are spectacular.
Tips:
- Do not take the narrow path down. There are steep drop-offs. People have died slipping on the trail and falling off the cliff.
California here we come!
3rd Stop: Redwood National and State Parks, California
I told you that we were getting close to the California border. The drive only took us 40 minutes via US-101 S.
We had most of the afternoon to explore this splendid place. With Forestry as my background, I have a love of trees, especially big trees.
Redwood Park is home to the tallest trees in the world. Wow! That’s why this place was on my bucket list. Imagine a tree 2,000 years old and over 300 feet in height. That is back when Rome ruled the world. If only the massive trees could talk. In a way they can when the tree rings are studied.
Hikes:
- Big Tree Trail
From the parking lot this is a very short loop on a paved trail. Once you reach the massive tree and look up, you will arch your back and still not see the top. Standing next to Big Tree makes you feel how magnificent these trees are. Pictures can’t capture the feeling.
- Brown Creek Trail
We chose this trail since it is listed as a mid-level hike. It is located on Drury Parkway. The hike is 2 miles in and out. The hike begins in a dense old-growth redwood forest running alongside a stream. Where Brown Creek and South Fork Trail intersect, we choose to take the Brown Creek Trail to our left. After a short distance on the trail, we came to the Carl Schenck memorial grove and walked the Scholar Loop Trail. The park donated 40 acres of the redwoods to the founder of the first American school of forestry.
Tips:
- Don’t walk the Scholar Loop Trail. It’s dense foliage and fallen trees make it difficult walking and it’s not that scenic.
- Walk Brown Creek Trail to where it intersects Rhododendron Trail and turn around and head back the way you came. This is an easy pretty hike.
- Trillium Falls
We choose this last hike of the day because it was listed as moderate difficulty. The length of the trail is 2.8 miles with a 440 ft elevation gain. You will feel the hike in your glutes. It took a little over an hour to hike.
Trillium Falls trail is right off Highway 101. You’ll park in a clearing with a sign that says “Elk Meadow”.
At the beginning of the hike is a small waterfall and about midway there are big redwoods. My husband calls them BATs. Big Ass Trees. They lived up to that name.
Last Stop: Oceanview Inn, Crescent City, California
1 night
The rooms were outdated but large and clean.
Meals:
- Chart Room Restaurant
The restaurant is a local favorite. The seafood was fresh, and they’re known for their clam chowder.